The city centre of Leeds - which the government claims is England's foremost digital city - will now house about 6,000 civil servants from HMRC and NHS Digital  Credit: PA

NHS Digital is relocating to a newly created ‘Government Hub’ in Leeds city centre, designed to promote digital transformation and shared services.

The organisation, which is already based in the West Yorkshire city, will move all of its staff to a new home in the 378,000 sq ft property in Wellington Place (pictured below right). With a 25-year lease signed by the government, the premises have become the biggest ever commercially let property in Leeds.

The site – which represents one of a planned 18-22 such hubs to be located in major towns and cities across the country – will house about 6,000 civil servants, including some 3,800 from HM Revenue and Customs. The hubs will be shared by various public bodies and will provide “sustainable buildings, supported by smart technology and shared services”, the government said.

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NHS Digital chief executive Sarah Wilkinson said: “As one of Leeds’ major employers, it is an opportunity for greater consolidation of our Leeds estate when completed and will enable us at NHS Digital to build on our existing strong relationships with the wider NHS and government departments.

She added: “Over the past few years, Leeds has established itself as the major digital city in England with a thriving technology sector, which NHS Digital is proud to be a part of. The work NHS Digital does here in Leeds affects the lives of everyone in the country. Being part of the Government Hubs programme in Leeds is a great opportunity to work in partnership with both national and local organisations.”

HMRC chief executive Jon Thompson said: “We are delighted to be part of the new UK Government Hub in Wellington Place, Leeds. This is another step in HMRC’s transformation into a modern digitally advanced tax authority.”